[Zero Tolerance Policy]
BEHAVIOR OF COACHES AND TEAM OFFICIALS: Coaches and Team Officials in the Technical area are subject to the authority of the referee. If they fail to behave in a responsible manner, the referee will utilize the USSF policy of “Ask, Tell, Dismiss”.
Ask = A warning to the team official that their behavior is not responsible and must stop/change.
Tell = A caution. Although we do not display cards to non-players the coach must be listed in the caution section of the NCP match report with full details in the comment section. Use the drop down “Unsporting behavior”.
Dismiss = A send-off. Again, no card is displayed but the coach must be listed in the send-off section of the NCP match report with full details in the comment section. Use the drop down “Unsporting behavior”.
A coach who is dismissed must leave the field and its surrounding area and have no further contact (including electronic communications) with the team, players or other team officials during the match. If a coach is dismissed and there is no other carded adult to take responsibility for the team, the match must be abandoned and full details provided by the referee in the match report.
BEHAVIOR OF SPECTATORS: The Coaching staff is responsible for the conduct of their team, parents, fans and other spectators. If neither team claims responsibility for a disruptive spectator, the home team is held responsible.
If a spectator is disrupting the match, including harassing or questioning the decisions of the referee and ARs, the referee will approach the coach at the next stoppage, remind him/her that they are responsible for the spectator’s behavior and ask them to deal with the inappropriate behavior.
If the behavior continues then progress through tell and dismiss with the coach for failure to act responsibly (unsporting behavior) and deal with the spectator.
The referee suspends play until the disruptive spectator is dealt with by the coach.
If, in the opinion of the referee, order cannot be maintained, the coaches will be instructed to have the spectator leave the field area. Play is not resumed until the spectator leaves.
Full details must be included in the match report submitted by the referee.
If a referee or assistant referee feels threatened in any way by a spectator/fan, they will suspend the game, inform the coaches of their decision, summon the police if needed, and leave the field. Also if the behavior is severe in nature, steps may be bypassed in the act, tell, dismiss procedure at the discretion of the referee.
Again full details of the incident must be included in the match report submitted by the referee.
If a fan/parent from that team is asked to leave/ejected, the coach for that team gets a 1 game suspension; 2nd fan/parent ejection for that team = a 3 game suspension; 3rd fan/parent ejection for that team = a 8 game suspension! A coach who is suspended will also be removed from assignments as a referee when applicable.
If a coach has a specific concern/question regarding a game the proper place for that concern is the score report submitted to the league AFTER the game to be addressed as appropriate.
Please make sure all your coaches/ players/ spectators are aware of these guidelines and their immediate implementation.
Games Committee